How Nuno Tavares has cast more doubt on his Arsenal future
Robin Bairner
- 12 Sept 2022 09:50 BST
- 3 min read
Nuno Tavares has made a brilliant start for Marseille after leaving Arsenal on loan in the summer.
The left-wing back has thrived at Stade Velodrome, having been given free reign on down his flank by last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up.
In eight outings in all competitions this season, he has scored three goals for OM as they have made a remarkable start to the campaign that has seen them match PSG stride for stride at the top of the French rankings.
The 22-year-old’s displays have won widespread acclaim in France, where another talented Portuguese youngster Nuno Mendes has been tearing things up for PSG.
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Tavares’ best start ever
Tavares, meanwhile, appears delighted to have traded Arsenal for Marseille and previously suggested that he would be open to making the move on a permanent basis.
“I came to Marseille to finally be able to play in my position,” he told RMC last week. “By signing with OM, I wanted to have an option to buy, but Arsenal refused.”
Speaking to the club’s official website, he has once again dropped a hint that he would love to stay at Stade Velodrome, where Matteo Guendouzi also continues to thrive after leaving the Emirates club.
𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗗𝗨 𝗠𝗢𝗜𝗦 𝗯𝘆 @CazooFR 🏆☄️
Vous avez élu la frappe de @NunoTavares 🆚 Reims but du mois d’août ! Notre latéral gauche 🇵🇹 se livre à cette occasion sur son début de saison et sa relation avec les supporters 🎙
🔃 RT pour tenter de remporter son maillot dédicacé ✍️ pic.twitter.com/fzUVvsU5N8— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) September 9, 2022
“It’s the best start I’ve made to a season since I started to play football and I really hope it continues like this,” he said after being awarded the club’s Goal of the Month prize for netting against Reims on the opening day of the season.
“There’s a special atmosphere at Stade Velodrome. I felt it from the start of the match and it made me really want to score. It’s amazing because the fans never stop signing.”
The prospects of Marseille signing Tavares, though, look complicated. Just as William Saliba impressed with the club last season before moving back to win regular game time at Arsenal, the Portuguese could do the same. There is no buy-out clause in his loan deal, which was why Guendouzi’s move to OM was possible at a relatively bargain price.
